Aggressive Greyhound

JailhouseBabe

I own 2 rescue greyhounds - a 6 and a half year old girl that we've had for 1 and a half years, and a 7 year old boy that we've had for 1 year. Both dogs are retired racers who had been homed before we got them.

The girl is really gentle, she was a bit nervous around other dogs for the first few weeks that we had her but soon settled down. She'd retired at 4, then spent 8 months in a home before her owners divorced and decided they couldn't keep her; we met her the day she'd been returned to the kennels and took her home 5 days later after the home check.

The boy retired at 2 and a half, and spent 3 years living with a single mom and young child before the RGT decided to remove him - she'd apparently kept him locked in a utility room virtually 24/7. He's a big dog, and had been back at the kennels for 3 weeks when we saw him. I'd only gone to get my dog's nails trimmed, but ended up falling for the sob story about how nobody wanted him.

Anyway, the problem is that he is very aggressive with any dog that isn't a greyhound (although occasionally with other greyhounds too). I spent a fortune on dog behaviour therapy last year, which essentially involved taking him to a group and walking him around other dogs. He's always muzzled and on a harnass when I walk him, and I am strong enough to hold onto him when other dogs are around - even though he goes crazy trying to get at them. In the home he's a fantastic dog; he's not overly affectionate, but will 'allow' you to fuss him, and he's great around my nephews and friend's children (obviously I never leave either of my dogs unattended with children).

Today I managed to lose my grip on his lead while I was lifting the lid on a bin to deposit a poo bag, and he ran straight at a staffy-type dog (on lead) that I hadn't even seen. Luckily it was a man with the dog, so he was able to eventually grab my dog's harnass and hold him away. My girl and his dog then started fighting while I was trying to grab my dog's lead.

I don't know if anyone can help me. I've just got home and I'm crying again. I've got blood on my hands and I don't know where it's come from. I remember when walking the dog used to be a pleasant experience. I just don't know what more I can do to try to improve his behaviour.

Sorry for the long post.

gratefulforhelp_2

Hugs, babe. Don't have any great advice for you - you had him on a lead after all - but hang in there, someone will.

UKTigerlily

Was he muzzled? If not i'd keep him muzzled at all times. Have you tried things like a gentle leader that supposedly stop them pulling & going mental at other Dogs? I remember seeing an episode of It's Me Or The Dog where there were two 8st Great Dane x Labs & they weren't good with other Dogs & would drag their Owners & lunge but they walked really well on the gentle leader.

Have you tried things like clicker training him & watch me commands when other Dogs are about? I have a Staffy that doesn't like other Dogs but I let her greet any that come up to her (Muzzled) & she's getting much better

I'm sure others will be around soon with good advice x

hethmar

Im so sorry you have this worry. Its quite unusual to hear of an aggressive greyhound. Did you get him from a proper rescue? One which you can contact for back up on this problem?

JailhouseBabe

We never leave the house without a muzzle on him - I couldn't live with myself if he attacked another dog and he wasn't muzzled. I don't know what a gentle leader is?
I've tried watch me commands but to no avail. He doesn't respond to treats (I've tried liver, smelly cheese, roast chicken). He also doen't know how to play, we've tried him with different types of toys. He gets off the lead occasionally (when I'm sure there's no other dogs around) and always comes back to me when I call him. He's just a completely different animal when there's dogs around (or cats).

JailhouseBabe

hethmar wrote: »

Im so sorry you have this worry. Its quite unusual to hear of an aggressive greyhound. Did you get him from a proper rescue? One which you can contact for back up on this problem?

It was a proper rescue centre (Retired Greyhound Trust). I tried talking to them when we'd had him a couple of weeks. They said they'd warned me what he was like with other dogs (they hadn't). They also knew that I was inexperienced with dogs - we got the first one from the same kennels 8 months previously and had explained that we had never had our own dog before.
We were offered 2 free training sessions with a woman who's experienced with greyhounds, but we only went once. It was a 45 minute drive each way, there were 30-40 greyhounds at the 1 hour session and obviously not enough time to focus on any one dog. Mine was very well behaved, but we just ended up sitting at the side of the room for the whole session. It was a complete waste of time.

hethmar

Thats a bit naughty of them. Do you live near any other big rescues who may give you some back up and training free?

JailhouseBabe

hethmar wrote: »

Thats a bit naughty of them. Do you live near any other big rescues who may give you some back up and training free?

I'm not sure, I'll check it out. Thanks.

YorkiePud_3

The trouble is that a lot of people don't tease their racing greys with rabbits or hens (as they used to do, figuring it gave them an edge) .... (and not something I ever did with mine) ... I have heard of some using other dogs.
I know ... dreadful isn't it?
So that might be where your boy has his keenness around other dogs that aren't greys ... plus, you never know, but he may never have been around any other dog but another grey.
Some prats just lock them up in a shed and get them out to take them to the track ... it never ceases to make me furious or surprise me what the hardened dog community will do.

What I would do is get a nice link of black pudding and cut it up into cubes. Give your dogs some just as you are going out of the door on your walk then put the rest in a bag in your pocket. They probably won't take their eyes off you and shouldn't wander far!! I have never known a grey who could resist black pudding (plus it keeps their pads hard so they aren't prone to cuts and grazes) ... but if you've got your grey's attention at all times when you are out, you should be ok!!

JailhouseBabe

Never heard of using black pudding before, thanks YorkiePud. I'll buy some in the morning and let you know how I get on.

sarabe

I spent a fortune on dog behaviour therapy last year, which essentially involved taking him to a group and walking him around other dogs. He's always muzzled and on a harnass when I walk him, and I am strong enough to hold onto him when other dogs are around - even though he goes crazy trying to get at them.

What else was involved other than walking around other dogs? Any rewards or punishment. What was he learning?